Monster Hunter Tri AU Review

Dust off the Wii. Capcom is about to show you what is best in life...

Hence the introduction of free-form hunting. In addition to venturing out on any of the structured Guild missions, there's always the option of simply wandering into the nearby Moga Woods map and doing whatever you please: carving the horns off deer, foraging for dino-dung (a fabulous fertiliser), and slaying the boss monsters that roam randomly through the map. The further you progress in single player, the deadlier the free-range monsters you run into, and the more Resource Points you'll get for slaying them. Every kill adds to your tally; time spent massacring docile herbivores is never time wasted.

Combine this time limit-free ad-hoc hunting with a bit of gathering from resource points that randomly re-spawn as you play, and you have a fairly relaxing alternative to the strict, merciless victory conditions imposed by the Guild.

Another stress-reducing feature is the introduction of secondary mission objectives. By giving you the option of ending a quest once you've completed one of these minor tasks – like, say, severing a monster's tail – you can now bail out of a quest with a skerrick of your pride intact. It's a handy option for when you run out of potions, pack the wrong equipment, or simply find yourself outclassed by the latest walking freakshow you've signed on to eviscerate.

Fleshlumpeaters put up one hell of a fight.

In Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, micro-managing your small workforce of buff-cooking chefs and AI co-op buddies was an ordeal. Now there is only one of each, and both are far more versatile and effective. Better yet, you spend around 80% less time stuffing around with them, which in turn frees up more time for hunting. You no longer have the option of paying a chef to cook your stamina-boosting steaks for you in bulk, but the all-new double spit-roast accessory lets you cook them yourself in a fraction of the time.

The single-player mode is substantial. Even a determined, skilled player will most likely take weeks to burn through to the final boss, and if you wish to collect most or all of the sets of armour and weapons, then you're guaranteed months of happy grinding as you re-do missions to get all the materials. High-Rank equipment will often need to be made from carves with 5%, or even 2% drop rates, and that means hunting dozens and dozens of wyverns. Likewise, you'll need stacks of coins from the Arena Mode to craft certain rare sets of armour; a good an excuse as any for marathon split-screen sessions.

Tri's true longevity will most likely lie in the online mode. While there are quests of every rank available at all times, there is also a rotating selection of special Event Quests, with rewards that go towards an exclusive tier of goodies, including a pair of enchanted leather pants. More importantly, playing co-op with other humans truly brings the game to life. Whether your hunting squad is running like a well-oiled machine, or you're all screaming abuse at the one guy who keeps dying, the unpredictable nature of play always make co-op feel like an occasion.

An underwater fight against the Gizzardgulper.

The Verdict

While there are plenty of long-term challenges both on and offline, the most rewarding goals are probably the ones you set yourself &#Array; after all, this is a game that's all about stepping outside your comfort zone. For example, no matter how proficient you are with a particular weapon class, the instant you try a different one you become a noob all over again. Many curse the awkward movements forced upon those who use the lance, but later learn how its potential for both blocking and evasion make it brilliant for getting right in a monster&#Array;s face.

Each weapon class has a play style radically different to the rest, and you&#Array;re free to experiment with them all &#Array; your character&#Array;s abilities are defined by the equipment you&#Array;ve forged, not by XP. If Monster Hunter ever starts getting stale, all it takes is a change of weapon to turn it into a whole new game; changing your &#Array;class&#Array; is as easy as changing your socks. Whether you prefer to shoot, slash, stab, sink, or swim, the choice of play style is always up to you.

Above all, Tri gives you the impression that you&#Array;re running amok and being a bad-ass in a strange, unspoilt wilderness. If you've never played Monster Hunter before, all you need to get started is the curiosity it takes to take a punt on a whole new gaming genre &#Array; you'll never never know, if you never never go.